Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition in which there is an insufficient intake of the vitamin B12. B12 is vitamin crucial to the creation of red blood cells. These red blood cells are what is used to carry oxygen throughout your body. B12 deficiency means that your body cannot adequately create these red blood cells and can lead to anemia, making you feel week, tired, and fatigued. This condition is serious and can also cause severe damage to your body including degeneration of the spinal cord and other serious complications.

B12 is a vitamin that comes from eating meat, eggs, milk, and cheese. The B12 vitamins within these foods are absorbed by your stomach and your intestines. A B12 deficiency occurs whenever your digestive system is not able to absorb these vitamins. This often occurs if you are not ingesting foods with B12 like those who are on a vegan or sometimes vegetarian diet, if you have a condition that prevents your body from digesting this food properly including Crohn’s disease, a parasite, or pernicious anemia. B12 deficiency can also occur if you have had surgery that removes part of your stomach or intestine.

The symptoms of B12 deficiency begin mild and include a feeling of weakness, lightheaded, pale skin, red tongue, bleeding gums, weight loss, sick to your stomach, or diarrhea or constipation. Over time, these symptoms increase and include a numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, depress, and a poor sense of balance. If for any reason you feel you may have a B12 deficiency, it is important to add B12 supplements to your diet immediately.